My Essential Alaska Travel Resources :
There are plenty of travel companies out there, but these are my favorite websites and resources for planning an unforgettable trip to Alaska. This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. For flights, I recommend using Hopper to compare the cheapest dates to travel to Alaska. Car rentals, arguably the best way to see Alaska, are best through Discover Cars! I always use Expedia's easy-to-use platform to compare the best rates. To keep cell service if you're traveling internationally, I use Airalo’s easy to purchase eSIM’s (no installation required), and NordVPN to stay safe while connecting to different wifi. For fun things to do, I recommend Viator or Get Your Guide to find the best tours in the area. Just in case, Safetywing is the insurance I always use for travel insurance. Lastly, my Alaska packing list for your travels to the Last Frontier.
Whale Watching in Alaska
Some people might not realize that whale watching is so popular here in Alaska, and even though there's plenty to do in Juneau, whale watching is one thing you won't want to miss. With an estimate of over 31,000 whales depending on the season, different areas of Alaska offer the opportunity to see different kinds of whales. Up north you can find bowhead whales, in areas like Anchorage and the Kenai you can find belugas, and in areas like the Kenai and Southeast Alaska you can find humpbacks and orcas.
As the whales migrate south during Alaskan winters for breeding and calving their new babies, they come back in the summers primarily for feeding. During these months you can often find them tail slapping or breaching, and if you're really lucky you might even see them bubble feeding! Overall, my best ever whale watching experience was on a privately chartered yacht called The Elysium. We spent 5 days cruising the waters around Juneau, and had the incredible experience of seeing multiple whales breaching completely out of the water. One even breached about 30+ times - it was incredible! However, not everyone has 5 days to spend in Juneau, so I've also listed my favorite one day tours below.
My Favorite Tours in Juneau :
- Whale Watching Tour - Mendenhall Glacier Express Tour - Helicopter & Icefield Adventure
Booking Your Whale Watching Tour
Just from a quick Google Search you'll find that there are over 20 different companies in Juneau that offer whale watching tours - this can make it a bit overwhelming when trying to decide which company to book with. Like I mentioned earlier I've been on multiple whale watching tours in Juneau - and to be honest they've all been very similar. Tours are similar prices, similar lengths, and almost all of them offer a complete refund if you happen to not see any whales during your tour.
My best experience was in 2022 on a tour with Harv & Marv's - we saw over 20 humpbacks and they were incredibly close to our boat. Although I'd like to say this was the company, wildlife encounters are typically all luck (plus usually all the boats from different companies explore the same areas). If you're unsure about booking with a specific company, I would look at boat size (the smaller the better), the length of the tour (longer tours give you more opportunity for wildlife encounters) and their online reviews.
Watch my Juneau Adventures here!
Other Alaska posts you might be interested in :
-> Best Summer Things to Do in Juneau -> Port Day in Juneau, Complete Guide -> Best Places to Eat in Juneau
Pin this Whale Watching Tour for Later!
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Hi, I'm Deborah! In 2021 my husband Tyler convinced me to move to Alaska. After living here for a year (then leaving to take a year long world trip) we realized there was no place we loved more. So now we're back - and I'm here to share all my best tips and hidden gems to make Your Alaskan Adventures the best they can be. \\\ My blog is free to read, but some links may be affiliates. This means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. Learn more here. \\\ |
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